Post by : Badri Ariffin

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is advancing at a pace that could make it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, according to World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Tedros said the outbreak is currently on course to surpass the West African Ebola epidemic of 2014 to 2016, which killed more than 11,000 people and became the deadliest Ebola outbreak ever recorded.

The outbreak in eastern Congo has already killed more than 2,000 people among more than 4,300 reported cases. It was officially declared on May 15, although health authorities later determined through genetic sequencing that the virus had been spreading since February.

Why the Congo Ebola Outbreak Is Different

The current outbreak is being caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, a type of Ebola for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments.

The outbreak is also developing in a difficult environment. Cases are being reported in remote parts of eastern Congo, where ongoing conflict, poor infrastructure and limited healthcare capacity are making it harder for health workers to identify and control new infections.

The affected area lies near the borders with South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda. Many new cases and deaths are occurring in communities that remain difficult for health teams to reach.

Some healthcare workers have also gone on strike because of unpaid salaries, while misinformation about Ebola has contributed to mistrust among some communities and discouraged people from seeking treatment at health facilities.

Tedros said the outbreak had gained a significant lead before authorities were able to fully respond, leaving health teams struggling to catch up with its spread.

WHO Expects the Outbreak to Peak Within Six Months

Dr. Abdirahman Mahamud, WHO director for health emergency alert and response operations, said the agency expects the outbreak to reach its peak within six months.

However, he said that estimate represents a moderate scenario. Under another scenario, the outbreak could continue for between nine and 12 months.

The current outbreak has killed people at a faster rate than any previous Ebola outbreak. By comparison, the 2014-2016 West African outbreak recorded at least 28,000 cases and took about eight months to reach 1,000 deaths.

Two Bundibugyo Ebola Vaccines Are Being Tested

Efforts are now underway to develop medical tools specifically for the Bundibugyo virus.

Two vaccines developed for this type of Ebola are being tested in humans for the first time, Tedros said. The WHO also plans to investigate whether an existing Ebola vaccine could provide protection against the virus after animal studies produced encouraging results.

Clinical trials of two potential treatments for Bundibugyo Ebola began last month in Ituri, the province that has been most heavily affected among the five provinces where cases have been detected.

How Ebola Spreads

Ebola is a rare but highly contagious disease. It can spread through contact with infected bodily fluids, including blood, vomit and semen. Transmission can also occur through contaminated materials and surfaces, including bedding and clothing.

The disease can be severe and is often fatal, making early detection and effective outbreak control critical.

Study Provides Clues About the Origin of the Outbreak

Researchers are also gaining a clearer understanding of how the current outbreak began.

A study published in Nature Medicine on Monday found evidence that the virus likely entered the human population after transmission from an infected animal. Researchers said the virus is genetically distinct from the versions of Bundibugyo Ebola identified during outbreaks in 2007 and 2012.

The findings add evidence that the current outbreak did not originate from those earlier outbreaks.

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